PHCS News

State, Township and PHCS Officials Dedicate New Park in Plainsboro

Oct 25, 2012

A 32-acre park stretching from the Millstone River to Plainsboro Road opened Monday, providing a beautiful passive recreation facility to be enjoyed by area residents, as well as those working and visiting at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (UMCPP) and other health entities located on the Plainsboro Health Campus.

The new Millstone River Park was dedicated as a public park of Plainsboro during a brief ceremony featuring remarks from Commissioner of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Bob Martin, Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu and Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS) President and CEO Barry S. Rabner.

The park—directly across from UMCPP—is the result of a redeveloper’s agreement between Plainsboro Township and PHCS in conjunction with construction of the 170-acre Princeton Health Campus that includes the new hospital. The site formerly housed FMC Corp. research and office buildings. PHCS invested $8 million to transform the office and industrial site into a green space featuring natural plantings, eliminating the need for pesticides, fertilizers or irrigation. In addition to the 100 trees already on the Millstone River Park property, PHCS planted 1,700 trees and shrubs. Almost a mile of pathways, as well as benches, bike racks and trash receptacles were installed.

"We anticipate that our new neighbors in Plainsboro, our staff and visitors to our hospital will enjoy for many years to come the quiet seclusion that the park provides," Rabner said. "This is the largest ecological restoration project ever in our region, and this park is a perfect complement to our new hospital, which was designed to be one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly hospitals in the country."

Commissioner Martin noted that "the Christie Administration is committed to protecting the air, water, land and natural resources of the state. Part of that commitment is protecting open space and bringing parks to life. I applaud the Princeton HealthCare System and township of Plainsboro for committing to revitalizing this 32-acre site and providing recreational space for the residents of New Jersey.”

The park is one of several green elements incorporated into development of the hospital and health campus. The Plainsboro Health Campus uses indigenous landscaping. The campus also features a system of walkways and bike paths and mass transit connections to nearby population centers, helping to reduce congestion in the region.

The hospital is powered, heated and cooled by an adjacent cogeneration plant—developed in partnership with NRG Energy Inc. of Princeton—that is twice as efficient as traditional energy plants. Photovoltaic panels installed in the hospital parking lot generate solar power for the hospital as well.

The new park with a small parking area is accessible via Plainsboro Road, opposite the hospital. For directions to the campus, maps, parking and transit information, click here.

From the left: Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu, Commissioner of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Bob Martin and Princeton HealthCare System President and CEO Barry S. Rabner officially dedicated the 32-acre Millstone River Park at a ceremony on Monday.

Millstone River Park provides a beautiful passive recreation facility to be enjoyed by area residents. The park, which features indigenous landscaping, was recently planted with 1,700 trees and shrubs. It is a favorite spot for those visiting and working at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.